No Pay Increase for Congress

By Tom Shoop

December 31, 2012

Update 1/1/13, 8:47 a.m.: The budget deal approved by the Senate early Tuesday prevents the scheduled pay increase for members of Congress from going into effect in March.

Last week, President Obama issued an order that would bring an end to the two-year pay freeze and implement a 0.5 percent raise for civilian federal employees. The order also would put into effect a pay hike for members of Congress.

Now, reportsThe Weekly Standard, Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., has sent his colleagues a letter urging them to take up legislation to reject the increase. "We believe that it is inappropriate for Members of Congress to receive a pay increase of any size while American families and taxpayers continue to face tough economic times," the letter states.

It's likely that the House and Senate will follow Barrow's suggestion. Congress has denied itself pay boosts since 2009.

Want more details on how the congressional pay process plays out, and how it relates to what federal employees receive? Kellie Lunney spelled it all out in a GovExec Pay and Benefits Watch column last summer.